Filling machine



June 12, 1951 P. JAKOB FILLING MACHINE I Filed Dec. 17 47 5 Sheets-s 1 INVENTQR TORNE Y5 June 12, 1951 J. P. JAKOB 2,556,188

FILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1'7, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 12, 1951 J. P. JAKOB FILLING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 17, 1947 June 12, J. P. JAKOB FILLING MACHINE Filed DEC. 17, l947 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 12, 1951 JAKQB 2,556,188

FILLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 17, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEIY5 Patented June 12, 1951 FILLING MACHINE John P. Jakob, Roselle, N. J., assignor to Ameri can Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 17, 1947, Serial No. 792,273

This invention relates to machines for assembling articles such as cans for filling into bags or other containers and has particular reference to assembling cans in layers and rows and forming a stack of improved structure for filling as 5 relation and to form a unit stack. Such a stack a unit into the bag. of cans then is shifted to bring all the cans in An object of the invention is the provision of the unit into a compact arrangement, with a a machine for receiving rows of cans in one plane divider sheet placed between the rows and the as a layer and for forming the layer into stacks unit stack thereafter pushed through a single by shifting out of the plane each layer of cans stroke to shift it and to deposit it into an opened as formed and for filling the unit stack into a bag or flexible container. bag. Cans A are fed tothe instant machine in any Another object of the invention is the provisuitable manner leading-to an inclined runway sion of a machine of the character described for 2! secured to the top of a frame 22 mounted on a receiving separated rows of cans in one plane as base 23, which, with the frame comprises the a layer and for forming the layers into stacks by main frame of themachine (Figs. 1 and 2). shifting out of the plane each layer of cans as Runway 2| includes. aplurality of spaced angle formed, for bringing a divider sheet into the irons 24, arranged in parallel relation and in a space between adjacent rows and for bringing manner tosupport and'guide the cans, so that the rows into closer position to form a unit stack four rows of cans may be fed or rolled downwardand for filling the unit stack into a bag. 1y by gravity simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is the pro- The cans A are retained in the runway2l by vision of such a machine for receiving rows of gates located at the terminal or lower inner cans and for arranging them in superimposed end of the runway (Figs. 1, 2 and 5). Y Gates 25 layers or tiers forming a unit stack and for fill- 25 are mounted'on arock shaft 26 carried in suitable ing the assembled cans as a group into a bag; bearings in brackets 21 secured to the frame 22. wherein the individual rows of cans in each lay- Shaft 26 is actuated by a rock lever 28 which is er are offset or staggered relative to the adjacent secured to this shaft; Lever 28 is cam actuated rows and layers to interlock the assemblage of by a cam operating lever 3|, the outer ends of ans, 30 these levers being-connected through a link 32 Numerous other objects and advantages of the (Figinvention will be apparent as it is better under- The joperat er 3| is ar i d o a sha stood from the following description, which, 33 mounted in a brac et 34 Which is Secu ed to taken in connection with the accompanying the frame (Figal and 3). The-lever 3| cardrawings, discloses a preferred b dim t, 35 ries a cam roller -35 which operates in a cam thereof. raceway 36 of a barrel cam 31 mounted on a ver- Referring to the drawings: tical shaft 38 journaled in upper and lower bear- Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a maings 4|, 42 secured tothe main frame 22 and chine for assembling, stacking and filling cans the base 23 of the machine. into bags; 40 Shaft 38 carries and is rotated by a helical Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown gear 43 which meshes with 'and'is driven by a in helical gear 44 mounted on a horizontal shaft Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with parts 45 journaled in bearings 46," 41 secured to the broken w nd parts shown in section; frame 22 (Fig. 3); Shaft'45'carries: and is r0- 4 s a perspective View SheWing a unit 45 tated byaworm wheel 48 which meshes with and stack 0f s arranged f filling o b 0 is driven by a worm 5| secured to a drive shaft flex ble containers; 52 journaled in a; bearing 53 secured to the F 5 1S a front elevational view of the frame 22. Shaft 52constitutes the main drive chme Shown n i 1 with parts br n awa shaft of the machine and maybe driven in any and parts shown in section; suitable manner v 6 is a perspective view shvwing spaced The gates 25 are lifted at intervals to permit. assembly tracks for receiving rows of cans and predetermined number of cans from t meajns for Shifting the tracks; and T ways 2| to roll forward between a plurality of Flgs- 7 and 8 are enlarged details Showing spaced and parallel vertically disposed guide a upp t on th t s and'in the P s plates 54 which at their'ends are secured to the of be o ed t e eb weehmain frame 22 in any suitable manner. A stopv As an exemplary embodiment of the invention b r 55 ied i th o t nd of th m t the drawings illustrate a machine into which 54 arrests the travel. ofthe cans and locates empty or filled cans A are fed in spaced; parallel them in a predetermined position. rows preferably in one plane to form a layer or The cans A as they roll forward, travel along 10 Claims. (01. 22614) tier having a predetermined number of cans in each layer. After being assembled the individual layers are moved or lowered into other planes to arrange the layers into superimposed- 3 and are supported on a plurality of spaced assembly tracks 56,5]...(Figs. 1, 2..and,.6.) located. adj acent, the guideplatesfl. 'Ihesetracks are, effect cont'inuations of the runway tracks 24, and

are formed from horizontally disposed angle...

irons. It is upon these tracks that successive layers or tiers of the cans are assembled preparers tory to being lowered in superimposed relation for forming a unit stack. h p

The assembly tracks 56, 5? are mounted on spacer blocks 58 (Fig. 6) and aresecured at their ends to transverse shift rail'sil'glfil; 53;: Win asuitable manner so that the tracks 56 and .the tracks '51 may be spread. apart when required. The forward ends of the tracks 56 (as viewed in Fig, 6) are secured-te-the'transverse: rail' 61 and the rear ends or these tra-cks are secured to the transverse-shift rail 62; Iii-similar man ner. the-forward ends-cf the tracks 51' are; secured to the trans-verse sh-iftrail and the rear ends of these-tracks are secured to the transverse shiftrail 64.

Ihe transverse shift rails G-f G2; Bland 54 are pivotally connected to thelower endsof' depending rock levers mounted on'rocl': shafts; 65; 66 car'- ried in bearings 61, 68 in thetop of the frame 22' (Figs, 1, 2 and 5). Shift rails (if, 61' are connected at one end toleverslf; 12 secured to rock shaft 65 and at the otherend-tolevers T3; 14-

carried' on. the rockshaft 66 Similarly; shift rails 63,- 64 areconnected atone'end to levers 1'5"; 16 carried on the rock shaft Handat the other end to levers ll, 18 secured to rock-shaft 66.

The rock shafts 65,- E6 6-). are cam ac-- tuated'by means of f levers- 8|; 82 secured to these shafts. Links 83, 84 connect the'lower ends of levers 8|; 82t'o the upper and. lower arms of a cam-operating lever 85 whichis carried on a shaft 86 secured'i'nthe frame. 22" (Figs. 1, 3, 5"

and 6). The lever85 is" formedwi-th a lower extension having a pin-81 carrying a cam roller 88" which operates'within a cam raceway 9| of "a barrel cam 92 mounted on the: horizontal shaft Cam 92 controls the: movement of the assem bly tracks 56, 51 and is operated in time with the cam 3Tsothat when the gates-25 arelifte'd, the

tracks 56, 51 wi'llfb'e in a normalor closed posi-- (Figs: fi and 7)"f'or' receiving rows of cans for assembling them into a layer:

As an. incident to forming a unit stack of'cans; a sheetor divider Btpr'eferably" formed of fibrous material is" inserted into spaces 91 between coopcrating sets of tracks 58,5? tozsepar'ate the rows of cans vertically ast-they'are arranged in superimp'osedrows. I'f-desiredsuch a. sheet-may also: be inserted attheleft or the-firs-tarowr of' A (as-veiwed. Figs. 2 andxar for providing an end member or wall. at" the. opened end of thebag into which thecans are filled.

Sheet or divider guides lls 'are"provided for supporting the sheets B in vertical position and these are secured to the top of the frame-Z'Z. The divider guides are formed ofshe'et metal having the base 123.

its uppermost position beneath the assembly tracks...

The platform 91 is rectangular in outline and ismounted on the upper end of a vertical stem or shaft 98 which is telescopically carried within a-sleeve illl, slidable in a pedestal I02 secured to The platform 9'! is raised and lowered by a lifter lever I03 loosely mounted on a pivot shaft Hi4 secured in the frame 22 (Figs. 1, 3 and.5)*.. The lever intermediate its ends carries a cam roller ['05 which operates within a cam racewayriflfi of a barrel cam i0! mounted on the shaft 38. The inner end of lever I03 engages the platform shaft 98 in a ball and socket joint N18 for efiecting the movement of the platform 91 in time with other operations ofthemachine.

The sleeve I01 and the pedestal me are pro vided'with respective clearance slots H't, l l'z'for movement of the lever i563; These slots i H; H2" are kept in alignment by a tongue tisw'hich is.

formed on the lower end of the sleeve. NH and which. is located and slidable intheslot H2.

The platform 9'! is movablein arrassemhlyframe or enclosure II4-(Figs. I, 3 and5') within which the layers of assembled cans are arranged; The

assembly frame. is-formed by side plates I t5; I'll-i secured to the main frame 22 (Fig. 1). his against these walls that thecans A engage as. the platform 9l-is lowered'with superimposed layers of cans. The frame H4 is open. at: both ends: to facilitate the removal of unit' stacks from the machine.

With the platform 9! raised-and the divider sheets Bin place a illustratedirrFig; 1; the'inie tial layer of assembled-cans A: on the assembly tracks now arelowered onto the platformv 91"...

This-is'eifected by spreading apart :or openingthe tracks 56,- 51' from their normally closed po-' sition for dropping the rows of, cans therebes tween (Fig. 8); The platform, 9? meanwhile: stands still to; receive the cans and the gates 25 remain in theirlowered position holding back thesupply of cans in the-runways.-

As the" initial layer of cans isdepositedon the platform the adjacent rows of cans are crowded" to opposite ends of the rows or; sides; of the assembly frame in order to arrange the cans in staggered relation. elements; H1 pivotally carried on pins H8 in 0 brackets [ZI secured to the bottom face of the an. extended arm: which is weighted at I23 atthe opposite end. Fingers I22 extend upwardly through openings l24'in the platform and-engage the cans at opposite ends of adjacent'rows andthus holds. these rows in place on the platform in a staggered relation.

The platform after receiving its initial layer of assembled cans is moved down to a plane, a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the can A preparatory to receiving asecond layer. The divider sheets B disposed between the ends of the cans move down with the platform. The assembly'tracks 56, 5'! meanwhile have moved together again into their closed position for receiving an additional supply ofcans from the runways. for assembling: them into a second layer.

The-operations of openingv the; assembly tracks 56, 51 thereafter are repeated and the second.

layer of cans are dropped down, this time onto the initial layer already disposed in staggered relation on the platform. The cansof this secand layer, guidedby the side plates M5,. l-IBof This is doneby retractable- 5. the frame II4, fall into position on the curved surfaces between adjacent cans of the initial layer and thus stagger the cans relative to the initial layer.

The operations of the gates 25 and the assembly tracks 56, are continued as hereinbefore described in time with the lowering of the platform 91 successively, in step-by-step relation until the platform is fully loaded with superimposed layers of cans. The platform at such a time reaches a position at the bottom of the assembly frame II4 where it dwells momentarily while the stack of cans as a unit is discharged there- ,from. Just before the platform reaches the bottom of the assembly frame, the fingers I22 of the retractable elements release their hold on the cans in the initial layer and are withdrawn from the openings I24. This is effected by the weighted ends I23 of the arms engaging against a stationary horizontal plate I26 secured to the frame 22.

The superimposed layers of cans are now free to be shifted endwise to bring all the cans in the adjacent rows together into a compact assembly and to thereafter continue the shifting thereof (to the right as viewed in Figs. 2 and 5) into an opened bag C disposed in position at an opened end of the assembly frame II4. Fig. 4 of the drawings illustrates a unit stack D of cans after being pushed together with the dividers B positioned between the rows. The rows of cans are disposed in a novel staggered relation laterally,

longitudinally and vertically and are thus interlocked in such a manner as to provide a firm compact stack ready for insertion as a unit in the opened bag C.

The bag C comprise a flexible container, shipping carrier or the like formed of flexible mate-' rial such as paper and when in an expanded condition forms a square or rectangular container having four side walls and a bottom. Such a container or bag is shown held in opened position on mandrel units I21 and corner rods I28 se cured to the machine frame (Figs. 2, 3 and 5). The big C is placed in position by hand.

Provision is made for shifting the stack D of cans as a unit, into the bag C, in a single stroke. This is done by means of a stack shifting device I3I mounted on a frame extension I32 of the machine frame (Figs. 2 and 5). Such a device operates a movable wall or pusher plate I33 which is carried at one end of the device and which is movable into and through the assembly frame 4 for effecting the shifting of the unit stack from the platform 91 into the bag C.

A device I3I (Fig. 5) includes an air cylinder I34 having a cylinder head I35 secured to one end and a telescopical sliding unit I36 operable Within the cylinder. Such a unit includes a piston I31 and an auxiliary or inner piston I38. Piston I3'I is formed on the inner end of the unit I36 and is slidable within the cylinder I34. Auxiliary piston I38 is formed on the inner end .of a piston rod I4I slidable within an auxiliary cylinder I42 of the unit I36. Piston rod MI is slid.- able in a bore I43 of the unit I36 and has its outer end secured to the movable plate I33.

Control of the stack shifting device I3I is effected through a valve I45 which is connected thereto by suitable pipe connections (Fig. 5)-- Valve I45 comprises a housing I46 having a bore I4'I within which a stem or plunger I48 is slidable. The housing I46 is provided with an inlet connection I5I which communicates with the bore I41 for supplying compressed air from any suitable source to this valve.

The opposite side of the housing I46 is provided with pipe fittings I52, I53 which communicate with the bore I4I. Pipe connection I 54 connects the fitting I52 with an inlet opening I55 in the cylinder head I35. Pipe connection I56 connects the fittings I53 with a telescopical pipe connection I51 secured to the cylinder I34. An inner pipe I58 is slidable in the telescopical pipe connection I51 and leads to an inlet opening I6I in the unit I36 wherein it is secured. A pipe connection I62 connects the fitting I53 with an inlet opening I63 in the cylinder I34.

The stem I48 (Fig. 5) is formed with a reduced section I64 intermediate its ends for providing an air passage I 65 surrounding it within the bore I41 so that the inlet pipe connection I5I may have communication with openings in the pipe fittings I52, I53 as the stem is moved within the bore I4'I. Stem I48 also is formed with outlet openings I66, I61 which have communication with openings in the pipe fittings and also with the outside atmosphere when the stem I48 moves into difierent positions.

The valve I45 is actuated by a solenoid I'II in proper time with other operations of the machine for controlling the movement of the stem I48 and thus effecting the operation of the stack shifting device I3I. The stem I48 normally is held in an inoperative position by a spring I12 which is retained in place by a wall extension I13 secured to the housing I46.

The solenoid I'II is energized through a normally open switch I14 which is mounted on the frame 22. Provision is made to operate this switch by a cam segment I'I5 on the cam I97 which closes the switch at the desired time (Fig. 1).

The switch H4 is connected by a wire I76 to a source of electric current, such as a generator I'II (Fig. 5) which in turn is connected by a wire II8 to one side of the solenoid I'M. A wire I8I connects the other side of the solenoid with the switch.

Hence, as the solenoid is energized through closing of the switch I14, the stem I48 is shifted within the bore I4! and closes the air supply to the opening in the pipe fitting I53 and brings the outlet opening I67 into communication with it for bleeding air in the device I3I to the atmosphere. This action also uncovers theopening in the pipe fitting I52 to a supply of air from the pipe connection I5I. A supply of compressed air then passes through'the valve I45, pipe fitting I52, pipe connection I54, inlet opening I55 into the air cylinder I34 thus forcing both the pistons I31, I38 to move toward the right (Fig. 5).

Piston I3'I reaches the end of its stroke when it engages against a wall I of the air cylinder I34 whereupon the piston I38 continues to move within the unit I35 until it reaches the end of its stroke engaging against a wall I86 at the end of the unit. During this stroke of the shifting device I3I the unit stack of cans is shifted by the plate I33 and deposited into the bag C at the opposite side of the machine.

At the end of this shifting stroke of the shifting device I3I, the switch I14 is opened and the solenoid I'II is deenergized. The spring H2 thereupon moves the stem I48 to the right as viewed in Fig. 5 and closes off the supply of air to the fitting I52 and uncovers it to the outlet opening I66 for bleeding the air in the device v I3I to the outside atmosphere. This action also uncovers the opening in the pipe fitting I53 to a supply of compressed air and allows it to pass into pipe connections I56, I52, telescopical pipe connections I51, I58 and inlet openings IEI, I63 into the outer and inner cylinders I34, I42 for moving the pistons I31, I38 toward the left (as viewed in Fig. Hence, the parts of the device I3I and the movable plate I33 are returned to their normal position (Fig. 5) where they remain until the next unit stack of cans is ready for shifting as hereinbefore explained.

The operations of the machine thereafter are repeated as the platform 91 moves upwardly again to receive a subsequent or initial layer of cans which are fed in, assembled and discharged upon the platform as previously described.

The filled bag 0 meanwhile is withdrawn manually or in any other suitable manner, from the mandrel units I2! and the corner rods I28 for discharge from the machine, whereupon another bag 0 is slipped in position on they units and the rods for receiving the next unit stack of cans.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1, In a machine for assembling articles such as cans or the like into stacked formation for filling into bags or other containers, the combination of a can assembling frame for receiving individual layers of rows of cans, a movable platform within said frame for supporting the cans, pivot elements carried on said platform for engaging the adjacent rows of an initial layer of cans for locating them in staggered relation, means for moving said platform to receive successive layers of cans, and means for pushing the assembled cans as a unitary stack from said frame into an opened bag.

2. In a machine for assembling articles such as cans or the like into stacked formation for filling into bags or other containers, the combination of spaced tracks for receiving rows of cans and for supporting the cans to form a layer, a can assembling frame located adjacent said tracks, means for moving the tracks in each row to withdraw the support from the cans thus releasing each layer of cans for discharge into said frame, and means for pushing the assembled rows and layers of cans from said frame into an opened bag.

3. In a machine for assembling articles such as cans or the like into stacked formation for filling into bags or other containers, the combination of a plurality of spaced tracks disposed in a horizontal plane for receiving cans and for supporting the cans in parallel rows to form a layer, a can assembling frame located beneath said tracks, mean for separating adjacent track sections in each row of cans for removing the can support and for releasing successive layers of cans to allow each layer to drop into said frame, a movable platform within said frame for supporting the layers of cans, and means for pushing the assembled cans from said frame into an opened bag.

4. In a machine for assembling articles such as cans or the like into-stacked formation for filling. into bags and other containers, the combination of a plurality of tracks for receiving rows of cans, said tracks being divided into a pair of spaced track sections for supporting each row of cans with all track sections parallel to form a layer, a can assembling frame located beneath said tracks, a movable platform within said frame for supporting the cans, means for moving each pair of track sections to withdraw the can support for depositing successive layers of cans into said frame, means for staggering the cans in a layer as they are deposited upon said platform, and means for pushing the assembled and staggered cans from said frame into an opened bag,

5. In a machine for. assembling articles such as cans or the like into stacked formation for filling into bags and other containers, the combination of a can assembling frame for receiving individual layers of separated rows of cans, a plurality of spaced tracks for supporting cans in parallel rows to form a layer, a movable platform within said frame for supporting the cans, means for moving said platform to receive sue-- cessive layers of cans, guide means located above the spaces between said tracks for guiding a divider sheet between adjacent rows of cans on said tracks, the divider sheet resting on and moving with said platform, and means for pushing the separated rows of cans together with a said divider sheet between adjacent rows preparatory to filling the assembled cans into an opened bag.

6. In a machine for assembling articles such as cylindrical cans and the like into stacked formation for filling into bags or other containers, the combination of a plurality of spaced inclined tracks for receiving rolling cans and for supporting a predetermined number of cans in each row to form a layer, a can assembling frame located beneath said tracks, means for separating spaced tracks in the rows for withdrawing can support thus releasing a layer of cans for deposit into said frame, and means for pushing the assembled layers of cans endwise from said frame into an opened bag.

7. In a machine for assembling articles such as cans or the like into stacked formation for filling into bags or other containers, the combination of a can assembling frame for receiving individual layers of rows of cans, a movable platform within said frame for supporting the cans, retractable elements carried on said platform for engaging the adjacent rows of an initial layer of cans for locating and for holding them in staggered relation, means for moving said platform to receive successive layers of cans, means engageable with said elements for moving them out of engagement with said staggered cans when a predetermined number of layers of cans are deposited upon said platform, and means for pushing the assembled cans from said frame into an opened bag.

8. In a machine for assembling articles such as cans or the like into stacked formation for filling into bags or other containers, the combina- I located beneath said tracks, means for moving said tracks to Withdraw support from the cans thereby depositing successive layers of cans into said frame, said track moving means restoring said tracks in container supporting position after deposit on each layer of cans, means for moving said gates to supply said emptied tracks with cans, a movable platform within said frame for supporting the cans, means for lowering said platform for individual layers of cans, and means for pushing the assembled cans from said frame into an opened bag. 7

9. In a machine for assembling articles such as cans or the like into stacked formation for filling into bags or other containers, the combination of a can assembling frame for receiving individual layers of rows of cans, a movable platform within said frame for supporting the cans, movable means carried on said platform for locating the cans in staggered relation, said staggering means engaging alternate rows of cans at different ends of the row, means for moving said platform with its staggered can rows to receive successive layers of cans on top of the preceding layer, means secured to said assembling frame and projecting laterally therefrom for supporting a bag to be filled, and means for pushing the assembled cans laterally as a unitary stack from said frame into said held bag.

10. In a machine for assembling articles such as cans or the like into stacked formation for filling into bags or other containers, the combination of a can assembling frame having a pair of vertically disposed side Walls for receiving individual layers of rows of cans, means for delivering a predetermined number of cans in individual rows to said assembling frame, a platform movable between said side Walls within said frame for supporting the cans, means carried on said platform adjacent said side Walls and engageabie at alternate ends of adjacent rows of the initial layer of cans on said platform for shifting the cans in each row against an opposite side Wall to locate alternate rows in staggered relation, means for lowering said platform to receive each successive layer of cans on the preceding layer in staggered relation, and means for pushing the assembled staggered cans as a unitary stack from said frame into an opened bag.

JOHN P. JAKOB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,942,555 Kimball et a1. Jan. 9, 1934 2,252,127 Kimball Aug. 12, 1941 2,304,342 Diehl Dec. 8, 1942 

